DCC investigating Memorial Park site for Mosgiel pool

The Dunedin City Council has launched an investigation to check the feasibility of a site to build a new pool facility in Mosgiel.

If the site is considered suitable, the build can progress without asking Dunedin city councillors to vote to adopt the site.

In a statement to The Star on Tuesday, council parks and recreation group manager Robert West said council staff were investigating the viability of developing the new facility at the western end of Memorial Park, near the existing Mosgiel Pool.

The council’s infrastructure services and networks committee supported the western location as a preferred site in April 2017.

The committee’s resolution had subsequently been confirmed, he said.

Council staff were now working to confirm if it was technically possible to build a new facility at the western site.

If the site was suitable, there would be no report to council on the site, he said.

In July this year, The Star broke the news the council was set to put forward a recommendation to build a pool facility on the car park near the grandstand at the southern end of Memorial Park.

Councillors were set to vote to decide if the recommended site would be adopted at a council meeting on July 30.

After the news broke, neighbours of the recommended site slammed the council for its lack of communication and the section of the council meeting on July 30 was postponed as the council sought additional information.

Mr West said the southern site near the grandstand would only be considered if the western site “proves to be technically unfeasible”.

The southern site would need to be adopted at a council meeting.

The investigation on the western site would include a geotechnical assessment, which would begin soon, he said.

The underground infrastructure of the site would be investigated and its proximity to the floodbank.

“This will take two to three months.”

If the western site was suitable, he expected access to it to remain from Gordon Rd.

When asked if the Mosgiel Caravan Park would be able to stay if the western site was deemed suitable, he replied “it is too early to say”.

He had told the caravan park operator and lease owner Paul Brooks about the site investigation, he said.

Mr Brooks, when contacted by The Star on Tuesday, said he wanted the council to do whatever it needed to do to get the facility built.

“All I want them to do is get on and build this swimming pool – this has been going on that long . . . just get on and bloody do it. The longer you hang around the dearer it’s going to get. Interest rates are cheap at the moment so get into it.”

If the land of the caravan park was needed to build a new pool facility, he hoped the council would make land available for the business to continue.

Mr West said the new pool was a joint project between the council and the Taieri Community Facilities Trust.

“While work to confirm the site is being done, staff are also working with the trust on the design and procurement for the new facility.”

Trust chairwoman Irene Mosley said the trust was “pleased that after nearly two months of silence from the council” it was now working to get the project back on track.